Concrete form filling machine



April 23, 1957 c. E. SHEALY CONCRETE FORM FILLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 10. 1954 u w w A EM Q V m M :L N 0 O C Y aw B .lu... 1 :EMMYHHWAH a v a a s 0 M a a a 3 2 s a a w a Q e a 4 a a a M xv A l l 3 l ,4 r ToRA/EY C. E. SHEALY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 CONCRETE FORM FILLING MACHINE A ril 23, 1957 Filed Sept. 10, 1954 April 23, 1957 c. E. SHEALY CONCRETE FORM FILLING MACHINE a Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 10. 1954 INVENTOR. COLON E. fiHEALY, BY

MCQL

ATTORNEX CONCRETE FORM FILLING MACHINE Colon E. Shealy, Hialeah, Fla. Application September '10, 1954,'SerialNo. 455,247

.4 Claims. (Cl. 25-103) invention relates broadly to the systematic molding of concrete window frames and has for its object a machine constructed in a manner to receive a mold to,

tbeifi'lled, shifting a source of concrete into overlyingengagement with an open side of the mold, discharging a quantity of concrete into the mold while the 'mold is being .vibrated, interrupting the flow of concrete to the mold at a predetermined timeand'then, shifting the source of concrete supply away from the filled mold topermit' the filled mold vto be conveyed to a point of discharge and storage.

An important object of the. invention residesin a novel form of concrete hopper that is provided with lower discharge openings or slots that are controlledby sliding gate valves and with 'the discharge openings being jointly co-extensive with the openings of a generally square or rectangular concrete window form, the discharge open-- the hopper being variable in size to accommodate itself to window frame forms of varying dimensions.

Other novel features of construction and arrangement of parts will be readily apparent during the courseof the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated; a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a'rnachine constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is an end view thereof,

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view, taken substantially on line 3-301 Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 3, with the hopper shifted to an overlying contacting engagement with a form to be filled and with a discharge gate in the open discharging position,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the several control cylinders and their means of operation,

Figure 6-i-s a bottom plan view of the concrete hopper, taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 3,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section of gate valves for controlling the discharge of concrete from the hopper, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of, a discharge gate valve and its track support and associated.

actuating mechanism.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral '5 designates a concrete hopper as a whole, embodyingan upper section 6 and a lower section 7. The section 6-i's 2,789,336 Patented Ail'. 23, 195.7

'2 of a predetermined size and is generally rectangular in top plan, having inwardlyjinclined side walls 8-and inner inclined walls 9. The walls 8 and 9 define at their :lower ends 'a relatively narrow. discharge opening forconcrete or the like thatis supplied to the hopper 6. The hopper 7 is 'detachably connected uponthe lower end of the hopper 6 through the medium of angles10 that are welded respectively to the lower endof the hopper '6 and the upper end of the hopper 7. Bolts or like fastening devices are. employed to rigidly maintain the hoppers in fixed operative position with respect to each other. As clearly shown in Figure 3, the lower-end of the hopper 6 is open and is in normal registry with theopen upper end of the hopper 7.

The hoppers '6 and7 are adapted to partake of vertical shifting movement for apurpose to bepresently described,

and the hopper'6 is providedwith guide devices 10 ateach of its corners. Theguide devices ltl are rigidly connected wi-th'the hopper 6 as by welding and embody antifriction rollers of any desirable form that anti-frictionally engage between side and end plates 11 and 12 welded or otherwise rigidly connected with the upper ends .of vertical corner posts. 13. The corner posts 13 as :here shown are in the form of I-beams. The posts 13 are suitably permanently anchored at their lower ends upon a suitable ground support.

'Means are provided to shift the hoppers-6 and '7 in av vertical direction, comprising conventional air cylinders 14 having projectingpiston rods 15 that engage beneath a plate 16. embodied withinthe, guide devices it which plates v16 are welded =to,the sidewalls of the hopper 6.

The "hopper 5 is adapted to move downwardly under-its own weight and th'ede'gree of movement may he varied, to a fine degree by limitscrewsli Thus, the cylinders 14 serve to elevate the hoppers While the hoppers will. automatically shift downwardly by gravity upon the relief of pressure to the cylinders 14. The cylinders 14 are actuated under the influence of compressed air and with all the cylinders 14 being simultaneously controlled fromv a single pressure andire'l-ief valve, as shown in the diagrammatic illustration in Figurefi. A source of compressedair is indi-cated at 1'9 and the severa-l cylinderszlrl are connected. with, the valve '18 through tubing '20.

AS pointed out in the preantbl'ejto thespecficat ion the hoppers 6 and 7are adapted to be shifted downwardly int o overlying contact with a concrete window frame formto be filled withconcrete andthe movementof the hoppers is relatively small, since it is only necessary that the hoppersbe elevated a distance sufiicient to provide a clearancefor the movement of the forms therebenea'th.

Asclearly shown in Figures 3 and .4, a conventional and, ene ly I t ngHIari ImZ- s b en u at as sup.-v ported upon'a pallet 22. Thelower end of. the hopper With thewalls 9 and [23 of the. hoppers 6;and 7, a rela-. tively narrow rectangular chute is provided whereby-- a concrete mix as introduced into thehjopper 6 will readily feed downwardly through the hopper 7 to be subsequently discharged into the mold 21.

Disposed beneath, the hopper. 7 andin a. horizontal plane, is a pair of spaced apart roller conveyors '25.

Disposed within'the conveyors and beneath the hopper 7* are a pair-of vibrator tables 26 of any conventional and; desirable construction. The uppermost surface o-f the vibrators 26 is substantially flush withthetopsofi the rollers 25. Disposed between the conveyors is an endless c'ham carrier 27 carrying pusher devices 28 at substantlally equidistantly spaced points throughout. The pushers 28 serve to engage the end of a pallet 22 and 1ts supported form 21 at a predetermined point of entry to the conveyors and to push the pallet and its form to a point beneath the hopper 7. Movement of the chain 27 and its pushers 28 is preferably electrically interrupted at the exact point where the form 21 will be disposed in the proper position beneath the hopper 7 for subsequent movement of hopper downwardly for engagement upon the top of the form 21 under a predetermined contact pressure as determined by the screws 17. The pushers 28 are so constructed as to permit the use of forms of varying lengthsand the spacing of the pushers is such as to permit the movement of the smallest recognized form while longer forms may be placed upon the conveyor and will cause the intermediate or underlying pushers to be depressed to inactive position. The pushers here illustrated embody an I-beam 29 having rigid forward cross plates 30. Plate 30 and the web 31 of the I-beam 29 are apertured for the passage of bolts 32 that are engaged with a pusher plate 33 that extends for the full length of the I- beam 29 and which projects above the I-beam for pushing contact with the pallet 22. The aperture of the web portion 31 is elongated and the aperture of the plates are of suflicient size as to permit the plate 33 to be rocked downwardly when a pallet is placed thereover. A spring device 34 yieldably maintains the plate 33 in its upper position for pushing contact with the pallets. Other forms of pusher devices may obviously be employed with equal success.

Since the discharge of a concrete mix from the hopper 7 is intermittent, it becomes necessary that the discharge opening of the hopper be controlled by shiftable closure devices. For this purpose there has been provided upon each side of the hopper 7, flat gate valves 35. The gate valves 35 are substantially identical in construction and embodies a flat plate 36 having its opposite ends partially cut away transversely for riding engagement upon rigid end tracks 37. The upper and lower surface of the plates 36 are substantially flush with the upper and lower surface of the tracks 37. As clearly shown in Figure 6, the plates are at right angles to each other and are shiftable to and from a covering position with respect to the discharge openings of the hopper 7. The tracks 37 are rigidly welded to angle irons 38 carried by the lower end of the hopper 7 and the tracks 37 for each of the gate valves 36 are parallel. An intermediate track member 39 is welded to an inner angle iron 40 that is likewise rigidly connected to the bottom of the inner walls 23 of the hopper. The track 39 engages a slot 41 cut across the lower face of the plates 36 whereby the lower face of the track 39 is flush with the lower face of the plate 36. The track 39 projects forwardly of the plate 36 when in the closed position and is supported against flexing by a brace arm 42 welded to the side of the hopper 7. A spacer member 43 is disposed between the outer end of the brace 42 and the outer end of the track 39 and with the spacer 43 being of a thickness corresponding to the web portion of the plate 36 resulting from the forming of the groove 41. The purpose of the spacer 43 is to permit of its removal from between the track 39 and the brace 42 in order to permit the removal of the plate 36 for repair or replacement. It will thus be seen that the lower face of the valve plates 36 including the lower faces of the tracks 37 and 39 will present a continuous flat surface throughout the circumference of the device whereby the hopper when lowered to the filling position with respect to the form 21 will have a flat contacting engagement throughout the upper surface of the form so as to prevent any unnecessary seepage or waste of material as the forms are being filled. Each of the plates 36 are provided with upstanding slotted brackets 44 that are engaged by pins 45 carried by crank arms 46 that are fixed upon rock shafts 47. The opposite ends of the shafts 47 are journalled in fixed brackets 48 welded to each of the four sides of the hopper 7. Each of the shafts 47 intermediate their length are provided with a crank arm 49 that has pivotal connection at its free end with a piston rod 50 that projects from actuating cylinders 51. The cylinders 51 at their upper ends are pivotally connected to the sides of the hopper 7 by fixed brackets 52 through the medium of which the cylinder may rock upon its pivot in order to actuate the crank 49. Compressed air feed lines lead to the upper and lower ends of the cylindens 51 and serve to shift an enclosed piston carried by the piston rod 50 in opposite directions for rocking the shaft 47 through the medium of the crank 49. It will be clearly apparent that when the pressure is applied to the lower end of the piston 51, the piston rod 50 will be shifted inwardly causing the crank 49 to swing upwardly for rocking the shaft 47 and moving the cranks 46 outwardly, which action results in the valve plate 36 being shifted outwardly to uncover the lower discharge end of the hopper 7. It will also be apparent that all of the cylinders 51, are controlled simultaneously so that all of the valve plates 36 are simultaneously moved to open and closed position after the hopper has been lowered to rest upon the form 21. When a predetermined quantity of concrete has been discharged into the form, the cylinders 51 are actuated in the opposite direction causing all of the valve plates simultaneously to move to the cut-off position at which time the cylinders 14 are connected with the source of air supply causing the hopper mechanism to be elevated to a predetermined point of clearance with the form 21. During the filling of the form, the vibrator tables are actuated which causes the concrete to firmly pack within the mold.

In the use of the device a pallet and a concrete form are placed upon the conveyors 25 and, as the conveyor is brought into movement, a pusher 23 will engage the end of the pallet and propel the pallet and its form forwardly beneath the hopper and at a predetermined point will be automatically stopped in the correct position. The operator then actuates the valve 18 for the relief of compressed air from the cylinders 14, permitting the hopper to move down by gravity to a point where the adjusting screws 17 will prevent further downward movement. In this position, the discharge end of the hopper 7 will be lightly contacting the upper side of the mold 21. In this position, the several cylinders 51 are actuated to cause the several valve plates 36 to shift outwardly to fully expose the open discharge end of the hopper 7. The fully open position is clearly illustrated in Figure 4 and, as before pointed out, as the concrete is fed into the mold, the tables 26 will be continuously vibrated. After the mold has been completely filled, the cylinders 51 are actuated in a reverse direction causing the several valve plates 36 to be simultaneously shifted inwardly to cover the lower discharge end of the hopper 7 and to effectively trowel the surface of the concrete that has been discharged into the mold. Thus, since it only takes approximately a few seconds to fill a mold, the device readily lends itself to a very high production. It is well understood that pre-cast window frames or the like are made in various stock sizes and to adapt the machine to various sizes of molds, the lower hopper 7 and its associated valve plates and cylinders may be readily disconnected from the upper hopper 6 and a hopper of a size corresponding to the particular mold to be employed will be substituted therefor. All other parts of the machine remain fixed. After the mold has been filled, the chain 27 is again actuated which causes the pusher 28 to propel the filled mold along the conveyor 25 to a point of discharge.

It will therefore be apparent that a very novel and highly effective mold filling machine has been provided. The device is rapid in action, results in a more compact and stronger window frame, may readily accommodate 7 molds of different sizes, is strong, durable, and results in a very considerable saving in labor and a very considerable increase in production. Various structural details have been more or less diagrammatically shown, since they are of well recognized types and may be varied as to size, shape and arrangements of parts. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise arnangement shown but that changes are contemplated that readily fall within the spirit of the invention as determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A machine of the character described for progressively filling open forms with concrete, comprising a hopper for the reception of a. concrete mix, means whereby the hopper is supported in a manner to partake of vertical shifting movement toward and from a window frame form disposed therebeneath, a lower discharge and for the hopper that has multiple discharge openings dimensioned in accordance with openings of the form, gate valves for controlling the discharge openings, a conveyor passing beneath the hopper whereby forms to be filled are conducted to a point beneath the hopper for alignment with the discharge end, means for shifting the hopper downwardly to contacting engagement with the window frame form disposed therebeneath, means for simultaneously shifting the gate valves to an open position when the hopper is in contacting engagement with an aligned form, means for vibrating the form as concrete is discharged from the hopper, means for closing the gate valves after the form has been filled, means for shifting the hopper in a vertical path for permitting movement of the filled form to a point of discharge, the said gate valves comprising flat plates that are substantially coextensive with peripheral discharge openings formed in the lower end of the hopper, the valve plates being shiftable in a horizontal plane simultaneously to cover and uncover the openings, trackways for slidably supporting each plate at its opposite end and at least one intermediate trackway for the sliding support of the plates, power cylinders supported by the hopper and that have power connection with each of the plates through the medium of which the several plates are moved to covering and uncovering position with respect to the openings, the lower surface of the plates and their supporting trackways being flush and presenting a continuous fiat peripheral surface for a flat contacting engagement with a flat upper surface of the form to be filled.

2. A machine for progressively filling portable concrete window frame molds, embodying a pair of spaced apart roller conveyors and a pair of vibrating tables having their surfaces in the same plane as the rollers, a chain carrier disposed between the conveyors and with the chain provided with a plurality of pushers having upstanding depressible pusher plates for engaging and pushing a concrete mold to a point of rest upon the vibrating tables, a concrete hopper disposed over the tables and with the hopper being rectangular and supported at each of its corner-s by rigid corner posts, guide means carried at each corner of the hopper that has guiding engagement with the posts in a manner whereby the hopper is shiftable in a vertical plane toward and from a concrete mold disposed therebeneath, power cylinders fixed upon each post and which serve to engage and move the hopper upwardly, the power cylinders when relieved permitting the hopper to move downwardly by gravity, adjustable means for limiting the downward movement of the hopper, the hopper formed in an upper and a lower section and with the lower section being detachable, the lower section having a discharge end that is rectangular and defined by side slots and end slots and with the several slots corresponding in width and peripheral dimensions to the opening of a concrete form to be filled, a gate valve for "covering and uncovering each of the slots, the several gate valves being supported on trackways to move in a horizontal plane, power cylinders supported by the lower section adjacent each gate valve and with the cylinders being simultaneously operable to move the gate valves to and from a covering position with respect to the discharge slots.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the lower sect-ion of the hopper supports a rocket shaft adjacent and parallel to each gate valve, crank arms carried by the rock shafts and with the crank arms engaging the gate valves adjacent each end to shift the valves to covering and uncovering position, an intermediate crank arm carried by each rock shaft that is connected to a piston rod projecting from the last named power cylinders.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the trackways for the ends of the valve plates are open at their outer ends, the intermediate trackways being supported against flexing by diagonal braces, a spacer disposed between the braces and the outer ends of the intermediate trackways, the spacers being removable for permitting the removal of the valve plates from their trackways.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,172,357 Harton Feb. 22, 1916 1,573,346 Kissam Feb. 16, 1926 1,733,706 Wid-in Oct. 29, 1929 1,782,820 Hardgrove Nov. 25, 1930 2,032,434 Overland et al. Mar. 3, 1936 2,593,409 Brown Apr. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,634 Great Britain Feb. 21, 1905 28,955 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1911 

